iOS8 vs. Nintendo 3DS: Apples and Oranges

Friday, August 15, 2014 9:00 AM

The main question that everybody has on their minds is will the new iOS8 be better than my Nintendo 3DS?

The new iMessage has everything we wanted it to have a year ago. You can now add sound and also video to your conversation at the push of a button. You can also add and remove people (including yourself) from group conversations.

This Fall Apple will release iOS8, probably at the same time that a new iPhone made of adamantium and angelís teeth is released as well. Apple calls iOS8 the worldís most advanced mobile operating system. Itís going to come with lots of nifty upgrades that will improve the user experience for millions of iPhone owners and provide fodder for millions of Samsung owners who will tease that their phones had the same capabilities six months ago. Iím very excited for iOS8 simply because I donít think my phone is reaching itís true potential. I want my phone to be like Lucy in the movie Lucy and use more than just 10% of its brain. Maybe iOS8 will help me get closer to reaching Lucy-like levels of power but I think the main question that everybody has on their minds is will the new iOS8 be better than my Nintendo 3DS? Letís break it down:

Can it get 3D?

iOS8: According to the Apple website it looks like iOS8 will not have any 3D broadcasting capabilities.

Nintendo 3DS: Yes. Thereís a little dimmer switch type thing on the right hand side that lets you turn 3D on/off and also increase and decrease the intensity of your 3D viewing experience. Without the glasses!

Advantage: Nintendo

Can you play Mariokart on it?

iOS8: Not only is Mariokart not available on the App Store, neither is any Nintendo game. Nintendo likes to have their games played on their own software and who can really blame them? Things just work better that way. Apple should be able to understand that better than anyone.

Nintendo 3DS: Yes! Mariokart 7 is a very enjoyable game to play for hours and hours on your Nintendo 3DS.

Advantage: Nintendo

Can I message my friends and family like never before?

Nintendo 3DS: Yes, sort of. First, of all your family would all need to own their own 3DS then you would need to get their Nintendo ID code. Then you can add them to your friends list and send them little messages and drawings via Swapnote. So the short answer is, yes. Long answer, no, not really.

iOS8: The new iMessage has everything we wanted it to have a year ago. You can now add sound and also video to your conversation at the push of a button. You can also send multiple pictures and videos at once. You can give your group conversations a name and also add and remove people (including yourself) from group conversations. You can geotag your conversations so that your friends or family know exactly where you are texting from and even see your picture on a little map. That sharing function also has an option to share for an hour, a day, or indefinitely.

Advantage: iOS8

How is it at helping me track my health and fitness data?

iOS8: Thereís a new Health app that lets you keep track of all your health and fitness data right on your dashboard. Calories burned, heart rate, sleep patterns, and some new thing called HealthKit is also making it easier for apps to be developed that share these statistics with your other health and fitness apps. Feels like a really healthy fun time, doesnít it? Health!

Nintendo 3DS: The 3DS has a pedometer built in it so if you carry around your 3DS everywhere then youíll know how many steps youíve taken. There are also many brain training games available to purchase, if you consider brain fitness to be important to your overall health.

Advantage: iOS8

What about the Cloud? Is that still a thing?

Nintendo 3DS: The only clouds Nintendo is interested in are the clouds in the World 5 Skyland level of Super Mario Bros. 3.

iOS8: Apple has gone cloud crazy. All of these new additions may seem like I am describing Google Drive but I am not, in fact, talking about Google Drive. Iím talking about iCloud Drive. See the difference? iCloud Drive will allow you to have access to any kind of file on any of your Apple devices. Changes made to a file on one device will be made to the files on all the other devices, as if by magic. Cloud magic.

Advantage: iOS8

So what have we learned here?

Weíve learned that Appleís new iOS8 might be the worldís most advanced operating system or at least a great new upgrade that will allow you to use your Apple devices (especially your iPhone) more efficiently. Weíve also learned that the Nintendo 3DS letís you view your games and videos in 3D without wearing glasses and itís a great way to play Mariokart. One of the only ways, in fact, to play Mariokart. Maybe weíve also learned that the best way to keep the quality of your products high is to control both your hardware and your software. It feels like this is the best way to do what you do and deliver your services to your customers.

Jason Lee Norman

Jason Lee Norman is a writer with a beard. He is the 2014 Writer in Residence at the Edmonton Public Library. He is obsessed with keeping his iPhone over 75% charged.

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Division [1] Web Design

Division [1] Web Design is a web development company based out of Edmonton, Alberta. They publish articles that are of interest to both other web developers and business owners alike.